FMR Fires Gooners into First

Gooners usurped wortley at the top of Division Three as they overcame their rivals 2-1 at the western. Both sides would have chances in an open game; Martin Keown setting the tone early on by heading in even though he was yards offside. Wortley would have the first legal sights of goal but Nigel Krippner could only head wide when well-placed while Paulinho Santos saw his header steered round by Seaman. They would be hit by a savage blow on 31 minutes as Thierry Henry thumped in a shot from inside the area to put the Gooners ahead. They would waste a chance to double their advantage before the break as Dennis Bergkamp hit a free-kick wide but they would go in a contented side at the interval. They took the momentum they had gained into the second-half and forced Quincy Bowey into a dangerous back pass which brushed a post. They would find a crucial second goal on 59 minutes as Patrick Vieira toe-poked home with a forward’s precision. Santos couldn’t respond for the hosts as he hit a free-kick wide and the contest might have been finished but for a penalty miss by Bergkamp on 73 minutes. Wortley would sense a chance to come back into the contest but Brandon Hiller couldn’t place his shot home while Gilberto Silva headed wildly off-target at the other end. Wortley’s task would become significantly more difficult as Orlando Bhoendie was sent-off for handball and Bergkamp might have put the game safe but his free-kick lacked accuracy. Wortley launched a late rally but Seaman punched away Santos’ free-kick although Hiller would round the ‘keeper to pull a goal back. However, it would prove too late for them to produce any more chances and the visitors had struck a crucial blow in the title race. FMRealism talked about his ‘come back from a tactical flop to a genius’ but he will be well-aware that they face another test of their credentials against Morley on Tuesday. Thegreatlordbags has seen his side not only lose their edge in the title race but also have promotion put under threat. A tough trip to Munich awaits as they look to regain lost impetus.

Dream Team moved confidently into second as they defeated a good Munich side 2-0 at the Stadium of Dreams. Munich started in confident fashion but Seth Eaves couldn’t keep his ambitious lob down. Warren Wish would have a similar effort at the other end as DT slipped into gear and they would find themselves ahead on 39 minutes; Wish producing a better chip to completely deceive Blacksmith to give the hosts the lead. It was very nearly two before the interval but Garry Gain’s toe-poke hit a post and went safe, much to the relief of the visiting side. Munich would start the second-half like a house on fire and saw Fabrizio Gualtieri hit the woodwork with an excellent header before Rufey Rowdy caused an anxious moment in the home defence by putting a nervous back pass some way from its intended target. Dream Team would emerge from the early pressure to see an excellent free-kick from Dudley Dream repelled before Blacksmith also saved excellently from a Mil Moody chip. They would forge into a two-goal lead on 79 minutes as Max Merry shot home following a corner to leave the visitors with a mountain to climb. Stephane Aoudou nearly pulled one back on 88 minutes with a powerful low shot but it was not to be as the home side celebrated an important win. MrJames encouraged Morley to beat the Gooners next-up as he declared with a cheeky smile that it ‘wasn’t hard, (DT) did it a couple of matches ago.’ Anderson won’t have been too disappointed with the defeat as his side continue to compete well against all the sides in the division, indicating that a good season is in store next time out.

Morley Town remain in the hunt for promotion following a 2-2 draw at Mighty Mojos and they will have been relieved as they had a late equaliser to thank in an exciting contest. Any nerves Morley might have been suffering from will have dispelled as soon as Zacharias Ashe steered them into a 20th minute lead from their very first effort. However, the Mojos are thriving under Joshy since his appointment and they came fighting back although Darius Mossley couldn’t trouble Zubeldia with a tame header. Myles Allott would go closer with a side-footed effort which missed by a fraction while Ashe needed stopping by Housham at the other end. The second-half would improve on an already good game as chances and goals arrived regularly. Morley saw Dustin Wotton head narrowly off-target before having another headed effort saved by Housham as they looked for a more comfortable lead. However, they would still have to deal with a threat at the other end and Timotei Buta had already had one effort saved before he headed the Mojos level on 59 minutes. Adolf Munzberg went close to restoring the visitor’s lead with a clever effort and Morley would find more frustration as Wotton wasted a chance from the spot on 80 minutes. Abraham Axhorn then rubbed salt into open wounds by firing in from distance to put the hosts ahead on 82 minutes. However, Morley would show great resolve and found an 89th minute equaliser courtesy of an excellent diving header by Art Doyle. Mojos still might have pinched the points but Ferdinand Quinn put a free-kick over the bar and both sides took away a point each. Leeg21 will be thankful for the point after going behind so late in the day but they will realise the need to beat Gooners on Tuesday to push themselves back into contention. Joshy continues to impress with his Mojos side but did indicate funds were a little tight when he told fellow managers ‘I am broke.’

A true end of season style match-up was played out at Mosquito Alley as Alsancak defeated Cressex 5-2 in a game full of chances. The home side dominated the first-half and had a fifth minute lead as Andrew Taylor drilled in a free-kick. Gabriel Agbonlahor would see a diving header held by Clooney before Lee Cattermole chipped over as the hosts went for the killer blow early in the piece. Rory Burston would find his luck out as a powerful header hit the bar before Cressex’s only chance of the half saw Emil Rojas strike a free-kick off a post. The home side were back on the front foot shortly afterwards and Taylor made good from another set-piece as he curled an effort beyond Clooney. Agbonlahor would find his radar out once more on 41 minutes as he volleyed off-target before Fabrice Muamba chipped against the bar with the last attack of the half. Cressex would be improved after the break and Cabbar Saatcioglu had already gone close with a chip before a flick header by Rojas reduced the deficit to one on 48 minutes. Taylor would cap a brilliant personal display, though, and fired Alsancak back into a two-goal lead from another sensational free-kick; blasting through a non-existent wall he left Clooney looking skyward for help. Cressex were in determined mood despite Taylor’s heroics and were back in the contest again on 56 minutes as Tryggvi Valsson drilled in from distance to make the score 3-2. They would shoot themselves in the foot only a minute later, though, as Tomas Tiribocchi put through his own goal to gift Alsancak their cushion back. This goal seemed to deflate the visitors and Miles Beckett made it 5-2 with a clinical strike in the area on 61 minutes. Agbonlahor continued his woes by heading off-target while Lauro Poggi missed with a shot at the other end as the game remained open. Clooney would finally win a battle with Taylor on 70 minutes as he turned away another set-piece but it would be too late to save his side from falling to a 5-2 defeat. Wienersnitzel’s side continue to fight it out for fifth spot but whatever happens between now and the end of the season the manager will sure to have deemed this campaign a successful one. Villan_RAS won’t put his season in the same bracket as his counterpart but there are enough positives going forward to suggest they could challenge if they can sort out their defensive deficiencies.

Rolling Thunder are also in the hunt for fifth following a solid 3-0 home victory over Jammas AllStars. An early chance saw Juan Yepes head the hosts into the lead on two minutes as Frezzolini couldn’t reach the forward’s flicked header. Jovan Gagic would toe-poke too close to the ’keeper before Marcel Holub fired in from distance to double the home side’s advantage in a dominant first-half performance. Yepes would hit home the third on 26 minutes from inside the area and the forward might have completed a hat-trick but put his header over on 39 minutes. The second-half saw the AllStars respond and Kieran Corpe had a side-footed effort saved by Jorquera before Steven Riley put a header wide as they looked for a way back in. The goal would prove elusive, though, and Erland Hangeland had the chance to make it 4-0 but wasted his free-kick. Nevertheless a 3-0 win was a solid display from the improving club and Vehusheia looks like a man who could take them onto brighter things. Jamma will be hoping his second season is more successful than a troubled first but the talented manager is sure to have a trick or two up his sleeve in the off-season.

EspAda enjoyed a comfortable afternoon as they disposed of Norfolk 4-0 at Huco Mundo. Daniel Brewster shot home the opener on three minutes and only Clemens prevented the deficit getting larger just five minutes later as he turned Zihni Demiray’s shot round a post. Andreas Sommer would also be denied by the ‘keeper as Clemens gathered at the midfielder’s feet while Patric Toebring put a header wide. Toebring would also see a volley saved but the home side would get their second goal as Geoffrey Stiles headed in on the half-hour. Stiles would then produce a super diving header to make it 3-0 two minutes later and Frederik Smit smashed in a half-volley to make it 4-0 on 33 minutes. The second-half would prove to be a non-event as the home side coasted out the game to gain a deserved three points. Malteseexpert will still be looking for an improved campaign next time out and a comfortable win against the whipping boys won’t hide this fact. Howemiester will be hoping for some Christmas cheer as his young players face their judgement day very soon.